HT201940: About the "Are you sure you want to open it?" alert (File Quarantine / Known Malware Detection) in OS X

Learn about About the "Are you sure you want to open it?" alert (File Quarantine / Known Malware Detection) in OS X
bbbjim
Level 1 (12 points)
Mac OS X

Q: All browsers seem infected by Malware. Help please: Current suggestions haven't worked.

I have been infected by Malware that is opening pop-ups and external websites and all forms of intrusion.  I have tried a couple of suggestions indicated here such as trashing a variety of apps and extensions.  After searching my apps and folders, many of the suggested "Library" things to trash are not on my computer. I am so paranoid at this point I am not even sure if any of the suggested anti virus software etc. suggested on here are legit.  Even as I type here a couple of pop-ups appeared. Is there a legit protector and if I install that protector will it also help me eradicate the current problems? HELP PLEASE! I am on a MacBookPro using OS X Yosemite.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Dec 18, 2014 3:06 PM

by dominic23,Solvedanswer
dominic23 dominic23
Level 8 (41,536 points)
Mac OS X
A:

   Use  free  AdwareMedic by clicking “Download ” from here

 

   http://www.adwaremedic.com/index.php

 

   Install , open,  and run it by clicking “Scan for Adware” button   to remove adware.

 

   Once done, quit AdwareMedic by clicking AdwareMedic in the menu bar and selecting

   “Quit AdwareMedic”.

 

   Safari > Preferences > Extensions

   Turn those off and relaunch Safari again.

   Turn those on one by one and test.

 

               or

 

   Remove the adware  manually  by following the “HowTo” from Apple.

 

   http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203987

Posted on Dec 18, 2014 3:39 PM

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bbbjim

Q: All browsers seem infected by Malware. Help please: Current suggestions haven't worked.

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  • Helpful answers

  • by stedman1,Helpful

    stedman1 stedman1 Dec 18, 2014 3:09 PM in response to bbbjim
    Level 9 (73,355 points)
    Apple Watch
    Dec 18, 2014 3:09 PM in response to bbbjim

    Have you checked the Apple article below?

    Remove unwanted adware that displays pop-up ads and graphics on your Mac - Apple Support

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Dec 18, 2014 3:36 PM in response to bbbjim
    Level 8 (48,633 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 18, 2014 3:36 PM in response to bbbjim

    Is there a legit protector and if I install that protector ...

     

    There are no such "protectors" since there is nothing that can prevent a user from willfully making modifications to a Mac's operating system, if he insists upon doing so. You can prevent adware's intrusion by simply refusing to install such garbage. To eradicate it follow Apple's instructions linked by stedman1 above.

     

    OS X provides plenty of warnings before allowing itself to be modified. For a description of how this may have occurred read How to install adware.

  • by dominic23,Solvedanswer

    dominic23 dominic23 Dec 18, 2014 3:39 PM in response to bbbjim
    Level 8 (41,536 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 18, 2014 3:39 PM in response to bbbjim

       Use  free  AdwareMedic by clicking “Download ” from here

     

       http://www.adwaremedic.com/index.php

     

       Install , open,  and run it by clicking “Scan for Adware” button   to remove adware.

     

       Once done, quit AdwareMedic by clicking AdwareMedic in the menu bar and selecting

       “Quit AdwareMedic”.

     

       Safari > Preferences > Extensions

       Turn those off and relaunch Safari again.

       Turn those on one by one and test.

     

                   or

     

       Remove the adware  manually  by following the “HowTo” from Apple.

     

       http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203987

  • by bbbjim,

    bbbjim bbbjim Dec 18, 2014 3:41 PM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 18, 2014 3:41 PM in response to John Galt

    I did not "willfully" make these modifications nor did I insist on doing so.  Apparently relying on Gatekeeper was not enough. i always simply refuse to install such garbage as you suggest. I also follow all warnings.  However, thanks for the feedback.

  • by bbbjim,

    bbbjim bbbjim Dec 18, 2014 3:43 PM in response to stedman1
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 18, 2014 3:43 PM in response to stedman1

    I had tried the suggestions from that article. None of the suggested files were listed in my Finder. I went through all Apps, Folders  and extensions. ANything else. (I have always found your suggestions quite useful. Thanks!)

  • by bbbjim,

    bbbjim bbbjim Dec 18, 2014 4:06 PM in response to dominic23
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 18, 2014 4:06 PM in response to dominic23

    Although I was quite skeptical at first (No offense intended), after doing a little research and, since the info in the Apple article didn't seem to apply or I was doing it wrong, I decided to try AdwareMedic. It did the trick. Thanks!

     

    One followup question, Safari just doesn't seem to be operating correctly, consistently.  Is there a way to uninstall it then install it again without losing my Bookmarks? Thanks again dominic23.

  • by thomas_r.,Helpful

    thomas_r. thomas_r. Dec 19, 2014 5:01 AM in response to bbbjim
    Level 7 (30,889 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 19, 2014 5:01 AM in response to bbbjim

    bbbjim wrote:

     

    One followup question, Safari just doesn't seem to be operating correctly, consistently.  Is there a way to uninstall it then install it again without losing my Bookmarks?

     

    There's no easy way to reinstall Safari... if you delete it, you'll have to reinstall the entire system to get it back. However, deleting Safari and reinstalling it is almost never the right solution to any problem, so you shouldn't do that anyway.

     

    In what way is it still not working right?

  • by bbbjim,

    bbbjim bbbjim Dec 19, 2014 5:06 AM in response to thomas_r.
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 19, 2014 5:06 AM in response to thomas_r.

    Thanks for your information. As I read through the options your information supports my decision to not reinstall.  At this point all the problems seem to have disappeared with the use of the AdwareMedic and removing all the Website Data (cookies, extensions, etc.) on Safari.  Thanks again for your supportive and helpful response.